Reservations On Kapuni Subsidy

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31366, 11 May 1967, Page 14

Reservations On Kapuni Subsidy

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Watt) said last night that he doubted taxpayers would approve premium payments on condensate to the Kapuni consortium, the Press Association reports.

Mr Watt said the Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) seemed confident that natural gas would sell for less than electricity in both Auckland and Wellington. “However, the Minister’s confidence that the price margin will be in favour of gas will not be supported by all expert opinion,” he said. “New Zealanders are elec-tricity-minded and it will need considerable effort in salesmanship by gas undertakings, possibly supported by Government aid, to convince the New Zealand housewife that she should change from electricity to gas.” Support For Singer British fans of Johnny Devlin have launched a petition to persuade the authorities to let him stay in Britain. His visitor’s permit, which has twice been extended, has expired, and Devlin, who has been in Britain 18 months, is facing expulsion. The New Zealand-born singer is singing in the Empire Ballroom, one of the biggest dance halls in London, but he has been unable to get a work

permit. His fans expect to get 10,000 signatures.

Complaints Upheld

The Ombudsman (Sir Guy Powles) has found the 11 more public complaints against Government departments and agencies were justified during the last year than in the year before. Since October, 1962, when the office was established, he has dealt with 3148 complaints and 93 are still under action, says his annual report to Parliament

Sir Guy Powles said that of the 702 complaints received during the year, 56 cases were considered to be justified, compared with 45 for the previous year.